Proverbs 19:16

“For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up [again], etc.] This is to be understood of a truly just man; not of one that is only outwardly and seemingly so, or of temporary believers and nominal professors; but of such who are thoroughly convinced of their own unrighteousness, and believe in Christ for righteousness, and have it applied and imputed to them; as well as have principles of grace and righteousness implanted in them, and live righteously in this evil world; these often fall either into troubles or into sins, and indeed into both, and the one is the cause of the other; and both senses may be retained: the former seems more agreeable to the context, and runs thus, lay not…”

“(Compare Pro 10:17; Pro 13:13). despiseth . . . ways--opposed to keeping or observing, neglects (Pro 16:17) (as unworthy of regard) his moral conduct.”

“Keepeth his own soul - i. e., His life in the truest and highest sense. return to 'Top of Page'”

“His ways - The commands of God. Proverbs 19:18”

“19:16 Keeping God’s commandments (i.e., the law of Moses) protects one’s life (see Deut 28:15-68).”

“keepeth the: Pro 3:1, Pro 29:18; Psa 103:18; Ecc 8:5, Ecc 12:13; Jer 7:23; Luk 10:28, Luk 11:28; Joh 14:15, Joh 14:21-23, Joh 15:10-14; Co1 7:19; Jo1 2:3, Jo1 2:4, Jo1 3:22, Jo1 5:3; Rev 22:14 keepeth his: Pro 16:17, Pro 21:23, Pro 22:5; Eze 33:5; Mat 16:26 he that despiseth: Pro 13:13, Pro 15:32 Proverbs 19:17”

“16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; He that taketh no heed to his ways dies. As at Pro 6:23, cf. Ecc 8:5, מצוה is here the commandment of God, and thus obligatory, which directs man in every case to do that which is right, and warns him against that which is wrong. And בּוזה דּרכיו (according to the Masora with Tsere, as in Codd. and old editions, not בוזה) is the antithesis of נצר דּרכּו, Pro 16:17. To despise one's own way is equivalent to, to regard it as worth no consideration, as no question of conscience whether one should enter upon this way or that. Hitzig's reading, פּוזר, "he that scattereth his ways," lets himself be drawn by the manifold objects of sensuality…”